Japan to help boost local sport, confirms politician

Senior Japanese assembly member and former pro wrestler Ino Kikengi met with National Olympic Committee of Cambodia president and Minister of Tourism Thong Khon and NOCC secretary general Vath Chamroeun on Tuesday to discuss the potential of sport in Cambodia and how Japan can help develop it in years to come.

The 71-year-old politician said Japan was keen to learn about traditional Cambodian sports in the build up to their 2020 hosting of the Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“We will help arrange a sports tourism event at Angkor Wat, which is expected to attract Japanese tourists and others to learn about one of the Khmer ancient martial arts – Bokator,” said Kikengi, who also confirmed Japan’s approval of long-term training support for the Kingdom’s athletes ahead of the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia.